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smiley_c 's review for:
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell
I almost never rate a book full 5 stars, but this time I'll be generous. Sure, there are flaws, and somethings don't make perfect sense in the real world, but who cares? Not when the story blows me away and the writing hits me all in the feels.
Finishing the last page, I'm breathless. If my eyes weren't so dry they would be streaming. It's been a while since I read middle grade (Lockwood and Co seems more YA in my opinion, so they don't count), and I almost forgot how a wholesome, well written middle grade story about love, friendship, family and adventure would be. Heck, I even wished I'd read this earlier, when I was still the target audience. Thankfully, even a few years out, it was still a load of fun.
There are some things that I'd like to see more of, though, and I think a sequel would be great (the story is so completed as a standalone, obviously, but I'd absolutely want to see more of the Rooftoppers!)
Now for a few critisms. Brace yourself --
Huh maybe this isn't a five star read after all, now that I'm evaluated it with a clearer mind, but the reading experience was wonderful with this fast paced book, so I'll be generous. For now.
Finishing the last page, I'm breathless. If my eyes weren't so dry they would be streaming. It's been a while since I read middle grade (Lockwood and Co seems more YA in my opinion, so they don't count), and I almost forgot how a wholesome, well written middle grade story about love, friendship, family and adventure would be. Heck, I even wished I'd read this earlier, when I was still the target audience. Thankfully, even a few years out, it was still a load of fun.
There are some things that I'd like to see more of, though, and I think a sequel would be great (the story is so completed as a standalone, obviously, but I'd absolutely want to see more of the Rooftoppers!)
Now for a few critisms. Brace yourself --
Spoiler
To be honest Sophie was a bit...generic? She wasn't blank alright, but the kind of brave, adventurous middle grade heroines you see in a lot of children's stories. Rather like Tilly in [b:Tilly and the Bookwanderers|32946432|Tilly and the Bookwanderers (Pages & Co., #1)|Anna James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533122707l/32946432._SX50_.jpg|53569561], all her life she nurtures an almost "in-denial", unrealistically optimistic hope to find a missing mother, and has a personality like any other "feisty", stubborn girls who probably should have listened to adults but got away with it because it turns out well in the end. Sophie doesn't seem to have any motivation in life other than finding her mother, or staying with Charles. And hearing a singular cello in an entire city is... well... you decide. The other characters seem underdeveloped (I understand, alas, the book can only be so long), and the final fight scene at the train station seemed unnecessary. Also, Charles, bookish, scholarly Charles, jumped across rooftops with a cello strapped to his back?? Just how young and fit is he??Huh maybe this isn't a five star read after all, now that I'm evaluated it with a clearer mind, but the reading experience was wonderful with this fast paced book, so I'll be generous. For now.